Questions to Ask Before Buying Hearing Aids
What Questions Should I Ask Before Buying Hearing Aids?
Making the decision to invest in hearing devices to treat hearing loss is something that is both very personal and takes time to consider the best hearing aid solution for your hearing loss, listening needs, lifestyle and budget.
As Doctors of Audiology, we at Kos/Danchak Audiology have counseled and treated many patients who came to us with similar concerns. The physicians who refer their patients to us know that we will take the time to answer all of your questions and provide the best possible hearing solution for your listening needs. To assist you with this important decision process, please consider the following questions to ask of any potential hearing care provider.
What is your level of education?
Licensed audiologists are required to have either a doctoral or master level degree in the hearing and balance sciences. At Kos/Danchak, all three of our audiologists have their Doctorate in Audiology and a combined 30 years diagnosing and successfully treating hearing loss. We evaluate hearing loss and are trained to detect medical issues to make referrals when applicable.What methods do you use to test appropriate amplification?
There are three parts to a hearing evaluation: the review of your medical history, a visual examination of the eardrums and ear canals, and the testing of the hearing. In addition to that, we utilize Real Ear Measurement. Real Ear Measurements place a tiny tube attached to a microphone in your ear to ensure that the volume from your hearing devices is adequate and most accurate. It is the best method to ensure that your devices will help you.How long have you been in business?
We have been ‘helping Arlington hearing well again since 1984!’
What style of hearing devices do you fit?
Knowing more about the options available to you are more important than how it will look.
All devices contain the same parts to carry sound from the environment into your ear. However, hearing devices come in a number of styles, which differ in size and the way they’re placed in your ear. Some are tiny enough to fit inside your ear canal, making them almost invisible. While others fit partially in your ear canal.
The following are common hearing aid styles:
Completely in the Canal:
Completely-in-the-canal devices are molded to fit inside your ear canal and can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
In the Canal:
An in-the-canal hearing device is custom molded and fits partly in the ear canal, but not as deeply as the completely-in-the-canal aid. This device can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
Half-Shell:
A smaller version of the in-the-canal, the half-shell is custom molded and fills the lower portion of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is appropriate for mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
In the Ear (full-shell):
An in-the-ear (full-shell) device is custom made and fills most of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is helpful for people with mild to severe hearing loss.
Behind the Ear:
Behind-the-ear devices hook over the top of your ear and rest behind the ear. “BTE’s” pick up sound, amplify it and carry the amplified sound to an ear mold that fits inside your ear canal. This type of aid is appropriate for almost all types of hearing loss and for people of all ages.
Open Fit:
These are usually very small behind-the-ear-style devices, although larger behind-the-ear devices can be modified for a more “open” fit. Sound travels from the instrument through a small tube or wire to a tiny dome or speaker in the ear canal. These devices leave the ear canal open, so they’re best for mild to moderate high-frequency losses where low-frequency hearing is still normal or near normal.
Which style are you recommending and why?
We will fit devices that provide adequate amplification for your loss now and for the next few years. We will also determine, with you, the style and level of amplification that is best for your lifestyle and budget.What brands of hearing devices do you fit?
As an independent practice, we have the ability to work with all manufacturers. We choose our manufacturers based upon the quality and reliability of their products, the breadth of their product families, their customer service, and certainly the success our patients have with their products. By working closely with you to identify where devices can improve your overall quality of life, we will determine, together, what brand is best for your lifestyle, communication demands and your budget.Are batteries provided and if so, for how long?
At Kos/Danchak Audiology, we provide batteries for the lifetime of your current devices. Batteries cost about $1.00 each and typically last for about 7 days. With two hearing aids worn daily, yearly costs can average around $110. Over the typical lifespan of an aid – around 5 years – this is a savings of over $550!What services are included in the price of the hearing devices?
At Kos/Danchak Audiology, the services that come with the purchase of hearing devices (“bundled”) are a main reason why we have been able to create long-term relationships with our patients and the friends and family they often refer to us. We also know that these services are why our patients are successful with amplification.
Making the decision to move forward with amplification is not a one stop process. It is important to involve family and friends in the process as their perspective is valuable and they also benefit from your ability to hear well again. Over the course of your journey to better hearing, you will have many contacts with the entire office and fitting staff. You should feel confident that we know how to best address your hearing needs, and you should feel that you are treated with respect and dignity. While the style and brand you choose is important, what matters most is the provider you choose!
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